Parental Drinking Huge Influence on Kids — Pediatricians

Pediatricians are trying to tell parents to talk to their kids about alcohol early. According to a new report, published as guidance for pediatricians by the American Academy of Pediatrics, kids are exposed to so much alcohol advertising at a young age that many begin to form positive views of drinking by age 9.

If their parents are drinkers — even very mild drinkers — the positive impression kids receive about alcohol consumption skyrockets according to pediatricians. Abstinence isn’t necessary, but “responsible” drinking is. Despite the massive media exposure kids get from nearly day one, parents remain by far the largest influence on how they view alcohol consumption. Drinking is also a slippery slope, with those who experiment at an early age having a high percentage of heavy drinking by age 18.

Pediatricians are trying to tell parents to talk to their kids about alcohol early. According to a new report, published as guidance for pediatricians by the American Academy of Pediatrics, kids are exposed to so much alcohol advertising at a young age that many begin to form positive views of drinking by age 9. If their...